Talk about a steal of a deal

Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Saturday, July 3, at 10:09 p.m.,

Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard (Santa Monica BMW) regarding a burglary alarm. Upon arrival, officers saw the garage bay open and brake lights to a BMW going on and off. Thinking it could possibly be a mechanic working late, officers checked the back of the building and saw the rear gate lock had been removed. Officers entered the location as the BMW started to back out of the garage bay. Officers detained the driver of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the driver did not own the vehicle and was in the process of stealing it, police said. The suspect, Terrel Richardson, 21, of Los Angeles was arrested for burglary, vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. His bail was set at $25,000.

Sunday, July 4, at 7:35 a.m.,

Officers responded to the 1100 block of Seventh Street regarding a suspicious person banging on a resident’s door. Upon arrival, officers contacted the person who was knocking. The man told officers his girlfriend was inside the apartment using meth and he wanted her to get out. Officers went to the apartment to check on the girlfriend. Officers made contact with someone inside and noticed signs of narcotic use. Officers were able to determine that the female was not inside. However, the resident, Charles Bybee, 40, of Santa Monica, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $25,000.

Saturday, July 3, at 8:17 a.m.,

Officers were patrolling the area of the 1200 block of Lincoln Boulevard when they observed a vehicle with expired registration. Officers stopped the vehicle for the vehicle code violation. Upon contacting the driver and passenger, officers said they could smell marijuana emitting from the interior of the vehicle. The passenger stated that he had hashish in the vehicle and it belonged to him. Further investigation revealed that the driver, Asia Smith of Venice was driving without a license. Smith also had a warrant from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Smith was arrested for failing to have proper tags on the vehicle, driving without a license and the warrant. Her bail was set at $35,100. The passenger, Danny Campbell, 47, of Los Angeles, was arrested for possession of concentrated cannabis and possession of marijuana. His bail was set at $10,000.

Friday, July 2, at 4:30 p.m.,

Officers were flagged down in the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade regarding an attempted fraud. The witness told officers that the suspect entered the jewelry store and attempted to purchase a $5,500 bracelet with a credit card. When the clerk asked for identification, the suspect left. Officers located the suspect a short distance away. The suspect was allegedly in possession of merchandise from numerous stores on the promenade that totaled $823.95. The suspect was in possession of identification and credit cards that did not belong to him, police said. The suspect, Jarrett Limanni, 32, a transient, was arrested for burglary, forgery, receiving stolen property, theft, use of stolen credit cards, warrants and a probation violation. He was not eligible for bail.

Thursday, July 1, at 10:49 p.m.,

Officers responded to the 1000 block of 14th Street regarding an assault. When officers arrived, they made contact with a witness who told officers that he observed the suspect hit, kick, and choke him with a coat hanger and take his shirt. The suspect left prior to the arrival of the officers. An officer located the suspect a short distance away and he was allegedly in possession of a coat hanger. Apparently the suspect and victim knew each other. The suspect, Balbinder Sihota, 51, a transient, was booked for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. His bail was set at $50,000.

Wednesday, June 30 at 3:06 p.m.,

Officers responded to the 2600 block of Ocean Park Boulevard (Clover Park) regarding a report of vandalism. Upon arrival, Santa Monica Airport personnel told officers they saw the suspect, who was with a group of people, write graffiti on the jungle gym in the kids play area. As officers started approaching the group, the suspect started walking toward the baseball field. As the officers followed the suspect they could see he was staggering. The suspect allegedly fell down as he was on the baseball field. Officers felt the suspect was too intoxicated for his own good and called paramedics. Officers said the suspect was in possession of two markers. He was arrested for vandalism and a probation violation. The suspect was identified as Hugo Martinez, 18, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $10,000.

Tuesday, June 29, at 10:55 a.m.,

Officers responded to the 400 block of Hill Street regarding an armed robbery report. Upon arrival, the victim stated he was in the alley west of the 2900 block of Main Street when a subject walked up to him and demanded his phone. The suspect allegedly pretended to have a handgun. The suspect fled with the victim’s phone. The victim went to a friend’s house and called his phone. The suspect answered and stated he would give it back for $1,000, police said. Further investigation led to the arrest of Tradel Faniel, 24, of Hawthorne for robbery, extortion and participation in a street gang. His bail was set $190,000.